Paro Festival - Bhutan

Introduction The tshechu is a festival in honour of Padmasambhava-"one who was
born from a lotus flower ", popularly known under the name of "
Guru Rimpoche " the Precious Teacher. This Indian saint contributed
enormously to the diffusion of TantricBuddhism in the Himalayan region of
Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan etc. around 800 A.D He is the founder of Nyingmapa,
the "old School "of Lamaism which still has numerous followers.
The biography of Guru Rimpoche is highlighted by 12 episodes on the model of
the Buddha Shakyamuni's life. Each episode is commemorated around the year
on the 10th day of the month by "the Tshechu "which has become the
name of a very popular festival. The dates and the duration of the festival
vary from one district to another but they always take a place on or around
the 10th day of the month according to the Bhutanese calendar.

During Tshechu the dances are performed by monks as well as by laymen. The
Tshechu is a religious festival and by attending it, it is believed one
gains merits. It is also a yearly social gathering where the people come
together to rejoice dressed in all their finery.

The Thimphu
Tshechu was established by the 4th Temporal Ruler, Tenzing Rabgye
(1638-1696) in 1670 on the 8th month of the Bhutanese calendar to
commemorate the birth of Guru Rimpoche.

Meaning
and History of the Thanka in Paro Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
posse's indiscernible virtues which permit them to liberate from sufferings
even those who fall straight into hell after having committed such sins as
killing parents and breaking the vow to their clerical brothers and lamas.
There, people have only to think, to touch, to taste, to smell, to listen
and to see the support of body( i.e. statue), speech (book) and mind (i.e.
chorten) of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas.

This is call liberation
by the mind, by touch, by knowledge, by taste, by smell, by listening and by
seeing. The people who know virtuous and unvirtuous deeds, because of
their devotion and faith in the support of body, speech and mind of the
Buddha, have created the Thanka, a mere sight which liberates the
individuals. In this mundane world there is nowhere to be found a more
superior treasure.

In order to have all the sentient beings who
are now a days impure, the Buddhas of ten direction have consulted each
other and have united all their virtues of compassion resulting in the
arrival of Ugyen Rinpoche on earth.

During a previous life, he
was born as a son to a woman poultry farmer. At that time, while he was
erecting the grate chorten of Jarungkhashor (Bodhanth in Nepal ), he made a
powerful Vow to have compassion for sentient being particularly those of
Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim. As a result of his vow, he is giving compassion
and blessing to them, for more rapidly than the other Buddhas.

This is why our accomplished forefathers made the great Thanka which
represents Ugyen Rinpoche and his eight Manifestations, the sight of which
liberates. They also established the code of veneration and offerings to it.
Both in this life and the next, it is hoped that those who have a great
desire to be delivered from trnsmigratory existence develop and protect this
excellent ancient costume.

Shugdrel Ceremony. (Blessing and
offering ceremony performed by the monk body infornt of the Thanka).
Regardless of the size of importance of any auspicious occasion, we must
complete the Shugdrel Ceremony to show the main achievement of the glorious
Drukpa.

Paro TshechuDay 1 (Inside the Dzong) Dance of the Lord of
Death and his Consort (Shinje Yab Yum) Dance of Lords of Cremations
Grounds ( Durdag ) Dance of Black Hats ( Shanag) Dance of Drum
from Dramistse (Dramitse Nacham) Dance of Eight kinds of Spirits
(Degye ) Religious Song (Chhoeshey) Day 2 (Outside the Dzong) Dance of the Lord of
Death and His Consort (Shinje Yab Yum) Dance of Black Hats with Drums
(Shanag Nga Cham) Dance of three kinds of Ging with Sticks (Gynging)
Dance of Lord of Cremation Ground (Durdag) Dance of three kinds
of Ging with Drums (Driging) Dance of three kinds of Ging with Drums
(Ngaging) Dance of Stage and the Hounds (Shawa Shachi) 1st part

Day 3 Dance of the Lords of the Cremation
Grounds (Durdag) Dance of Terrifying Deities (Tungam) Dance of
Heroes with six kinds of Ornaments (Guan Drug Pawo) Kyacham Dance of
Novel man and Ladies Lencham Dance of Stag and Hounds (2nd part)
(Shawa Shacha) Day 4 Dance of Lord of Death and His Consort
(Shinje Yab Yum,) Dance of four Stags (Sha Tsam) Dance of
Judgement of the Dead (Raksha Mangcham) Dance of the Drums from
Dramitse ( Dramitse Nga Cham)

Day 5
Early morning the great Thanka (Thongdrol) is shown and Shugdrel Ceremony is
performed. Dances of the Heroes (Pacham) Dance of Ging and
Tsholing Dance of the Eight Manifestations of Guru Rinpoche (Guru
Tshen Gye) Dance of the Sixteen Fairies Religious Song
(Chhoeshey)